Abstract
This report supplements the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Construction and Operations Plan.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores) is currently funding a multi-year study of the northbound and southbound migratory patterns of Red Knots using GPS satellite tags deployed on birds staging in New Jersey. The project was initiated in 2020, in collaboration with Wildlife Restoration Partnerships (WRP), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Normandeau Associates, and continued in 2021 with WRP, USFWS and NJ Audubon.
To date, a total of 60 tags have been deployed on Red Knots in New Jersey (29 in 2020, 31 in 2021). In 2020, 11 of the tags deployed returned data, while in 2021, 29 of the tags deployed returned data.
Of the 11 individuals with tags that provided data in 2020, one was recorded flying through the Wind Turbine Area at an altitude of 1,886 ft (575 m). The straight-line flight paths of 6 other birds suggests they may have flown through or near to the Wind Turbine Area.
Overall, the altitude of individual birds varied during their offshore migratory flights, ranging from under 66 ft (20 m) to over 9,843 ft (3000 m), suggesting that Red Knots adjust their flight height in response to wind and weather, or other factors.
A more detailed report on the 2021 data will be provided in the spring of 2022.